Mental Disorder Series 3: Sinful Touch

Chapter 7

Chapter 07 | ST

I twisted the stereo into high volume as we heard the full blast music. I wore a wayfarer as the sunlight hit us. I have been with my friends since college and we're in my Porsche 911. It has no hood and we could feel the saltiness of the air and the coconut trees along the way. We all sang the Good Days by SZA.

Sophia was sitting on the shotgun seat while Kanye and Veronica were sitting at the back. Today is my 18th birthday and it will be held at a prominent resort in Batangas. Sobrang sarap ng hangin na tumatama sa amin lahat habang umaalon ang buhok namin.

"This is f*****g amazing!" Sophia beamed. She raised her hand in the air as she felt the air. "It makes me relax a bit."

"Where is your family?" si Kanye.

Kanye is our gay friend and we love him. He is still wearing men's clothes but you can see the soft movements through him. Habang si Veronica naman ay bumubuga ng usok mula sa kaniyang sigarilyo.

"Nandoon na sila maaga pa," I replied. Tutok pa rin 'yung mata ko sa kalsada.

"Is Kyle there?" Veronica asked.

I shrugged my shoulder. "Of course... he wouldn't miss my birthday."

We all know that Veronica likes my brother. Kahit nung panahon na first year pa lang kami sa college ay gustong-gusto niya na ang kuya ko. Kaya lang masyadong suplado 'yung kuya ko at ayaw talaga siyang pansinin. Pero ramdam ko na may gusto ng iba si Kyle.

"Do you have a naughty plan in your mind, Veronica?" si Sophia.

Ningisihan siya ni Veronica at tinapon na 'yung sigarilyo sa kalsada habang nagmamaneho ako. Narinig ko na humagalpak si Sophia hudyat alam na kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isipan ni Veronica. Sophia Penaflor is a model in the Philippines. Marami rin nagkakagusto sa kaniya lalo na mga mayayaman na lalaki. Lalo na 'yung pinakamatalik niyang kaibigan na si Camilla.

"Make sure to wear a red bikini! For sure, Kyle would take a glance on your marvelous body!" Kanye exclaimed. Lahat kami natawa habang umiiling. "I can't wait to hook up with some delicious men there at your birthday party."

"Kanye!" I called. I cannot believe he actually said that. Expect ko na maghahanap ng lalaki si Kanye sa birthday party ko. Actually, lahat ng mga kaibigan ko ay maghahanap ng mga lalaki para may kasama sila sa suite nila.

"Come on! Loosened up a bit! You're single and ready to mingle tonight. Dapat lahat tayo madiligan sa resort na 'yun bago umuwi, okay?"

"Syempre naman!" si Sophia.

Tumawa nalang ako at pinagpatuloy ko na ang pagmamaneho dahil ang tagal mag-ayos ni Veronica. Hinahanap na rin ako ni Mom sa resort kasi ako pa naman ang birthday celebrant, I am the star tonight!

After an hour, we finally arrived at the resort. May mga sumalubong sa amin na mga tauhan sa resorts. Lahat sila may nakahanda na lei sa kanilang kamay at yung isang lalaki may dalang tray na coconut juice.

"Welcome to Montepalma's Sunville Resort!" they greeted us with warmth.

Bumaba na kami sa sasakyan at binigay ko na sa valet 'yung susi ko. Napansin ko na 'yung mga SUV at ang sasakyan nila Kuya Kyle at Tito Cadence sa gilid. Sinuot sa amin 'yung mababango na lei at humigop ako ng fresh coconut juice. Hanggang sa nakita ko si Mom na may kausap na event planner.

"Mom!" I called. Nasa likod ko lang sila Sophia, Kanye at Veronica. Nilingon ako ni Mom at mas lalo lumaki ang kaniyang ngiti sa labi. She opened her arms to welcome me with an embrace. Niyakap ko siya ng mahigpit at hinalikan niya ako sa pisngi. "Here I am, Mom. Where are they?"

"Nasa beach na silang lahat, anak. Nakahanda na ang mga tent at bonfire na malaki para sa gaganapin na sayaw. Magpakita ka na sa iyong ama dahil miss na niya ang unica hija niya," Mom said in cheerful tone. "Oh, are they your friends?"

"Yes, Mom. She is Sophia, then this is Veronica and lastly this is Kanye," I responded.

"Hello po, Tita!" aniya ni Kanye at nakipag kamayan siya kay Mom. "I am so glad to meet you."

"I am too, Kanye. Hi Sophia and Veronica!"

"Hi po, Madam!" si Veronica.

They all greeted my mother and they began a conversation. Sobrang saya ni Mom na makipagkuwentuhan sa kanila. Lalo na namukhaan ni Mom si Sophia kasi nakita niya raw ito sa isang billboard.

Hinubad ko 'yung sandals ko at naglakad ako sa buhangin ng naka paa. Ang sarap maramdaman ang buhangin sa paa ko at naririnig ko 'yung malakas na paghampas ng alon sa buhangin. Umangat ang tingin ko na mapansin ko ang langit ay nagkukulay kahel at ang araw ay halos kalahati nalang. Nasisinagan ng araw ang dalampasigan at sobrang ganda nito pagmasdan.

"Happy birthday, Kyla!" bungad ni Dad. Mabilis niya ako hinila para yakapin. My Mom ushered my friends to their seats. At nakita ko sila Kuya Kyle at Tito Cadence na naglalaro ng billiard sa gilid. "Nandoon kuya mo. Lapitan mo muna siya, anak."

"Sige po, Dad." I smiled.

Nilapitan ko si Kuya Kyle at kinalabit ko siya. Hinarap niya ako at tinabi niya muna 'yung tako at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. Ganito talaga 'yung bonding nilang dalawa ay maglaro ng billiards lalo na magaling silang dalawa diyan.

"Happy birthday," he greeted. Bahagya niya ako inakbayan at tiningnan ko si Tito Cadence na mataman na nakatingin sa akin at nilagok niya 'yung bote ng henessy sa kamay niya. "I'll give you my gift later, okay? Enjoy your day."

"Happy birthday, brat!" ani Tito Cadence.

He was wearing a hawaiian shirt with two unbuttoned on his shirt. It could see his chiseled chest vividly as he wore a beige board short. And his messy dark hair is covering his right eye. He chewed his bottom lips as he walked slowly towards my direction. He crouched down a bit then gave me a peck of kiss on my temple.

I gulped. "Thank you, Tito Cadence."

"I will give my gift to you after the party," he added. "How is my brat? Are you happy to see me?"

"Hindi, ah!" I rolled my eyes at him.

Nagkatinginan sila ni Kuya Kyle at humalakhak sa inakto ko. Ganito talaga ako kay Tito Cadence at medyo malapit naman ang agwat ng edad namin e. Nagistay muna ako saglit kasama si Kuya Kyle kasi namiss ko talaga siya ng sobra. Madalang ko na lang siya marahil sa kaniyang trabaho at mostly busy siya at nasa ibang bansa.

A party went on, as the lights began to light up. It was very colorful above us and the music was in full blast. People were chattering everywhere, my parents were talking with Montepalma. I saw Kanye and Sophia were dancing with random men on the dancefloor. And Veronica is trying to have a conversation with Kuya Kyle.

Cherry was playing with the sand. Her mother is behind her to watch her. Everything feels so nice and my life is very good at the moment. I leaned on the coconut tree as I watched the alluring moon shining between the dark. I shut my eyes as I sniffed on the salty air and while I was silently hearing the sound of waves hit on the seashore.

"Here is my gift."

I turned around to find the voice behind me. It was Tito Cadence walking towards me as his other hand was inside his pockets. He was very tall and his features looked spanish with his pointed nose. His thin kissable lips were moist and it caught my attention.

"Ang ganda ng lugar 'no?" he started. Tumabi siya sa akin at pakiramdam ko 'yung boltahe ng kuryente dumaan sa sistema ko na maramdaman ko 'yung balat niya. And his favorite perfume is I could smell from him. "Are you enjoying your day?"

I slowly nodded my head. "Yes... it was a beautiful night."

"Your brother likes the moon. He believes that the moon is his only friend during his painful past. It was shining bright upon us to give us a blessing, for your birthday."

"And the stars are twinkling beside the moon. It was crafted so perfectly in the night sky."

"Well, I believe in your brother. The moon will be with you at all times during your darkest time. No matter how fast you run, it will always follow you to shed you a light."

I pursed my lips. Hinarap ko siya at sa gilid ng mukha niya ay malalaman mo kung gaano ka perpekto ang paggawa sa kaniyang mukha. It looks like God took his time to craft Tito Cadence. Nilingon niya ako ng bahagya at umalon 'yung adams apple niya na magsalubong 'yung mata namin.

His lips twitched. "Happy birthday, Kyla Adrianna. I love you."

"Thank you, Tito Cadence..."

I used to admire Tito Cadence when I was a young. Who would've thought that he could be my uncle. He is standing like an alpha beside me with his dark hooded eyes. The first time I saw him, I was mesmerized with his intense gaze. The way he looked at me, as if he was pulling me towards him. I just liked him before but it was forbidden because he is part of our family.

"Here is my gift for you," he drawled. Kinuha niya 'yung maliit na kahon mula sa bulsa niya at kinuha ko 'yun. I opened it in front of him and my lips parted. "I know it is an odd gift but I have a reason for it."

I gulped. "Is this a pocket watch?"

"Yes," usal nito. "Balak ko necklace sana ireregalo ko pero marami na nagbibigay no'n sa'yo. Until I saw that pocket watch from the store, and I realized that I should gift that to you on your birthday."

"May I know the reason behind it?" I asked.

"Sometimes in our life, we all wished to turn back the time. I gave that to you whenever you're sad and full of regression— you just have to think of the time you used to be happy," he replied in a baritone voice. Humakbang siya palapit sa akin at hinawakan 'yung pisngi ko. "I want you to think of me whenever you're sad, Kyla. I really care for you..."

I licked my lips. "Thank you so much, Tito Cadence."

Afterwards, my parents called me to blow for my birthday cake. People were surrounding me as they clapped their hands. They were chanting my name to blow my candle on my cake. Until the time went slow, their voices became muffled voices in my head and I looked at my birthday cake.

It was Kuya Kyle holding my cake. As if we are only in the world and I began to stop the time. I felt the hot bullet tears rolled down through my cheeks when I looked at him. He was smiling at me with his dark eyes.

"Make a wish, Kyla," he muttered.

Hanggang sa nakarinig ako ng alarm clock. Bumangon ka agad ako sa kama ko at pinagmasdan ko 'yung kabuuan ng lugar. I am not in the resort anymore. It was my unit. I saw Tito Cadence was in the kitchen. I felt my cheeks and it was wet! Was I crying during my sleep?

It was a f*****g dream! It felt surreal.

Akala ko bumalik ulit ako sa dati. 'Yung panahon na sobrang saya ko at panahon na kasama ko pa ang buong pamilya ko at mga kaibigan. We were so happy as we all celebrated my birthday in the resort. We laughed, we drank and we have a genuine smile plastered on our facades. In the good old days... we didn't have any problems.

Bumaba ang mata ko sa hawak-hawak ko. It was a pocket watch and it was ticking in every minute. Napakurap ako hanggang sa marealize ko na kaya bumalik 'yung dating panahon sa panaginip ko ay hawak ko ito. Naalala ko 'yung sinabi sa akin ni Tito Cadence.

Sometimes in our life, we all wished to turn back the time. I gave that to you whenever you're sad and full of regression— you just have to think of the time you used to be happy.

Lumapit sa akin si Tito Cadence at hinubad niya 'yung apron. He was half naked in front of me. His ripped body is shining through my eyes in the morning. There's a bullet of sweat dripping on it.

"I did some morning exercise and I made your breakfast," he said, lazily.

"T-Thank you. Was I having a dream?" I responded.

He nodded his head. "Apparently, you are mentioning your brother and you were crying. I saw my gift on your side table."

He was the one who put the watch pocket on my hands. And it felt like I was rewinded in my past, with good memories. I was looking at him and realized that he saved me from the misery again.